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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Latest expense exceeded vessel cost (tow truck)

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rrick
Captain

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USA
261 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/22/2011 : 02:03:56

I found a lovable four door Super Ford 250 with just over 6 ton towing capacity fitted with a matching capacity 2" receiver hitch with one caveat: only 5,000 of trailer and 500 lbs of tongue weight are acceptable without a weigh distribution system. Priced similarly: aftermarket hitches straying from what Ford offered in their "tow package" vehicles, or spend the time to weigh the fully loaded tongue and find a system that matches my long tongue. Trailer sailers have some experience? Boat, gear and trailer are over 7000 lbs and I've never seen weight distribution bars on any boat. I hate straying from stock, but if need be, I could.

Molly Brown: 1967 Grand Banks 32-#34. Bronze, mahogany, teak, oak, with 120hp diesel to push all 10 tons. Currently an abuser of the bilge pump. Also... The Tall Rig Spirit: 1978, #973, Cast Fe Fin Keel on a Trailer

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2011 : 04:30:34

only 5,000lbs of trailer (all up) ???? that sounds really low for an F250!

We tow out C250 WB, much lighter than the C25 fin keel, using our F150 super cab 5.4liter 4x4.

I'm pretty sure we have passed that 5,000lbs even with our C250. We have pulled her out of the water with the ballast full several times (although we had the valve open and allowed it to drain before pulling away from the ramp)

[url="http://www.ford.com/trucks/superduty/specifications/towing/"]Fords Towing chart[/url]

Edited by - britinusa on 10/22/2011 04:31:52

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2011 : 04:39:46

I agree. My GMC 2500 HD reaches out to 9000. I'm sure an F250 Super duty gets at least that.

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Prospector
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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2011 : 04:49:01

whatever you do be sure you have the right weight for your boat. On the crane at liftout this year, ours weighed in at 6,000 lbs. Add in a factor of safety, and 9,000 lbs is about right for a tow capacity.

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rrick
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USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2011 : 15:03:35

The receiver hitch rating plate is very odd. As the factory tow package for '02, it's 5k/500lbs with ball mount only, but jumps to the full tow and carry capacity of the 3/4 ton truck at 12,500/1200lbs when a weight distributing receiver is installed. Aftermarket 13k/800lbs ball receiver hitches bolt further toward the cab to play the part of weight distribution and if I get a little more comfortable with the idea of straying from OEM design, that is what I'll have to do. Nobody does weight distribution for a tongue 3' from the trailer A-frame, a slide out tongue at that, as far as searched.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2011 : 17:01:17

Sounds like the truck is equipped with a Class III hitch, which will be limited to 5k/500. You may need to change the hitch and ball mount/ball. Look for a Class IV hitch. Both have a 2" square receiver. Draw-Tite, Rigid, and Curt should all offer them for a Ford F250. The price won't be bad. Incidentally, if your trailer takes a 2" ball, I found a ball mount and 2" ball rated at 7,500 from Curt.

Edited by - dmpilc on 10/22/2011 17:06:16

rrick
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USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2011 : 19:03:33

Not exactly a class III hitch, classed by Ford independently so label is class V-5. Drives me crazy the same hitch will rattle around and yank a 6 ton load but once a ball mount is slid in that same 2x2" receiver is becomes a class III hitch. I'm gaining trust with the big manufacturers offering the hitch I need without drilling to satisfy the law. Nothing is turnkey anymore... at least she's a beaut, a little painful swinging 7000 lbs noisy stinky car around town, but I've never owned a four door, never had leather seats, first slush box automatic I enjoy (no slushy, locks at highway, ups and downs not an peep of rpm change), and kinda dig the killing I made on what was a $40k MSRP car. Just one more $80 fillup to go 300 miles and the glow will definitely fade... and I'll gladly appreciate having a beater 2200 lbs 1.8L 5-speed. Almost got a factory hitch for that one year, ever seen a European tow ball hitch? Look it up, very funny looking and to a nieve American audience would definitely be sending some mixed signals.

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2011 : 10:15:38

It's not unusual to find underrated hitches on light-trucks.

I've used Drawtite hitches on my last 2 tow vehicles and have never had an issue.

Edited by - OJ on 10/24/2011 10:42:06

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2011 : 14:08:05

My trooper was at Midas today for a new muffler and I noticed a Trail Blazer in another bay with a class III Draw-Tite hitch. It was labeled 7,500/750 with weight distributing, otherwise 5,000/500. I would not have remotely considered towing 7,500 lbs. with a Trail Blazer! That sounds like F250, GM or Ram 2500, or bigger, territory.

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rrick
Captain

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USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2011 : 15:12:14

I kinda understand where Ford is coming from offering 500 lbs tongue weight for the factory receiver hitch. I recently weighed the vehicle, and to do some quick math, add three more 170 lbs sailors, a 100 lbs ice chest, subtract the GVWR and that leaves exactly 510 lbs for a trailer tongue weight.

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2011 : 06:40:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by rrick
 I kinda understand where Ford is coming from offering 500 lbs tongue weight for the factory receiver hitch. I recently weighed the vehicle, and to do some quick math, add three more 170 lbs sailors, a 100 lbs ice chest, subtract the GVWR and that leaves exactly 510 lbs for a trailer tongue weight.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I understand - to a degree. My concern is some naive owner discovering the tow vehicle is rated for, say, 12,000 lbs while not realizing the hitch is rated for less than half of that.

Edited by - OJ on 10/25/2011 06:42:01

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